RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AT WORK……. 

Statistics until March, 2006………….

The Human Rights Commission staff dealt with

• over 43,000 inquiries by telephone
• 1,760 by letter, and
• 760 in-person visits

It also received 824,887 unique visits to its website.  In addition, the Commission’s public education activity on its policies and the Code reached a further 10,428 people. These contacts resulted in 2,399 new complaints being filed at the Commission.

• 2,117 cases were completed at the Commission: Average age 12.9 months
• 143 cases were referred to the Tribunal: Average age 27.6 months
• An additional 27 cases were sent to the Tribunal after a reconsideration by the Commission of a previous decision
• Over the last few years, the Commission has received more cases than it has capacity to address resulting in a backlog of 581 cases

Wow – Just look at those numbers, regarding Racism, Racial Discrimination, Racial Harassment, Racial profiling and so on. These are words that are frequently heard, feared yet spoken although most times in a whisper. Almost like an “R” word. Painful yet Real.

What do these mean in reality?

Simply put, when someone is treating you unfairly, bothering you and or threatening you because of your race, color, ancestry, ethnic background, religious beliefs, even where you were born, this amounts to Racial Harassment. Hopefully you know that there is legislation in this country to protect you – Human Rights Code. Protect you at work, home or even when you are availing a service from a medical clinic, restaurant, mall, schools or hospitals.

How does Racial Harassment happen or take place?

Well, it can happen in a variety of ways, for example when somebody:

• Insults you or ridicules you because of your racial identity
• Treats you unfairly or differently based on your race, color, ethnicity
• Calls you names because of your religious beliefs, color, country of origin, etc
• Makes racial jokes all the time
• Attempts to degrade you as a person of a particular group by using cartoons, pictures

What can / should you do?

To begin with you can tell the person to stop. Keep in mind, that it is not your responsibility alone. It is equally the responsibility of employers, owners, contractors and authority figures of establishments that provide work, facilities or services to make sure that racial discrimination does not take place in their premises, offices or homes. Furthermore, you can contact the Ontario Human Rights Commission to make a complaint and contact the Police as well, in case you are in danger or being threatened.

Finally some advice from a fellow immigrant – Do not accept wrong because it encourages the wrongdoer to continue with the unwanted behavior towards other people. It is the duty of each one of us, to make Canada a wonderful place to live.

Immigrant Coach